Wire-stretcher and jack.



F. L. SHELOR & K. P. MORGAN.

WIRE STRETOHBR AND JACK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19, 1912.

1,068,704. Patented July 29, 1913.

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UNTTE FRED L. SHELOR AND KATHERINE P. MORGAN, F SALEM, VIRGINIA.

WIRE-STRE'IOHER AND JACK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED L. SHELOR and KATHERINE P. MORGAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Roanoke, State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful ire-Stretcher and Jack, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to wire stretchers, post pullers, and jacks, or to such devices in general as are employed for creating a draft or tensile strain.

The present invention relates more particularly to such devices wherein a lever is provided with a pair of gripping devices engaging a rod, so that when the lever is oscillated, the gripping devices will alternately grip or bind on the rod to advance the lever, the object to be stretched, lifted or otherwise moved being connected to the lever in one way or the other.

It is the object of the present invention to generally improve devices of that char acter, and to provide such a device which shall be simple, durable, compact and inexpensive as is consistent with convenience, efficiency and practicability.

This invention also contemplates a device of this character so constructed and operated that a short stroke of the lever will cause the advancement of the gripping devices along the rod, and so that a long or full stroke of the lever will cause the gripping devices to be alternately released in order that they will slip downwardly or recede on the rod. 7

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a wire stretcher which will permit the strands of a fence to be drawn beyond the end or corner post, so that the strand may be readily stapled or otherwise secured to the post without necessary employment of an anchor post, as is common practice.

To the above and other ends, which will appear as the description'proceeds, the invention resides in combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 19, 1912.

Patented July 29, 1913.

Serial No. 726,842.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clevice, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a fragmental detail in perspective. Figs. 3 and 4: are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and H of Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a washer employed in carrying out the present invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a rod of any suitable length, diameter and material, having a head or base plate 6 secured to one end thereof and a clevis 7 pivoted to the other end thereof, a chain of any suitable character being attachable to the clevis for connecting it with a fence post, or other object.

The actuating lever 8 comprises a handle 9 and a pair of bars 10 secured to the opposite sides of the inner end of the handle by bolts 11, the bars 10 straddling or stand ing astride the rod 5 in order that the inner end of the lever crosses the rod. The

bolts 11 being removable permit the handle to be detached whenever desired and for the purpose which will hereinafter appear. A bolt 12 passes through the free or inner ends of the bars 10 at one side of the rod 5, and a bolt 13 passes through the said bars on the opposite side of the rod, the said bolts forming fulcrum members. The said fulcrum members being arranged adjacent the rod 5 also retain the lever in proper relation relative to the rod, as will be apparent.

An elbow or L-shaped member 1a is pivoted at its elbow to the bolt 12 between the bars 10, and its short arm 15 is slightly hooked or curved for the engagement of a chain or other suitable draft member. It may be stated, at this point, that the short arm 15 of the L-shaped member may be connected to a wire fence clamp, or engaged directly to an object, as when the device is to be employed as a wagon jack or thelike. The free end of the long arm 16 of the L-shaped member 1 1 is provided with an elongated eye 17, a lever 19 being pivoted or fulcrumed loosely to the arm 16 by means of its reduced end 21 engaging within the eye 17. This lever 19 is provided with a gripping or binding device at its intermediate portion, the said lever having an intermediate opening 20 receiving the rod 5, and at its free end, the lever is provided with a thumb piece 22.

A relatively short link 24 is pivoted to the bolt 13 between the bars 10, and a lever 25 is fulcrumed at an intermediate point to the link 24l the lever 25 being provided with a binding or gripping ring 26 at its inner end embracing the rod 5 and being pr0- vided with a thumb piece 27 at its outer or free end. The long arm 16 of the L-shaped member 1 1 provides the relatively long link for the gripping device 20, whereas the link 24 is comparatively shorter so as to bring the gripping device 26 nearer to the lever. The thumb pieces 22 and 27 of the two levers 19 and 25, respectively, are arranged on the same side of the rod and at a suitable distance apart so that they may be pressed together by the fingers of the operator.

A flat U-shaped member 18 is attached integrally at its ends to the long arm 16 of the L-shaped member 14L and loosely embraces the rod 5 so as to provide a spring rest for the coiled wire compression spring 23 disposed upon the rod5 between the gripping lever 19 and the said spring rest 18. This spring 23 presses the gripping lever 19 outwardly, and the member 18 also holds the arm 16 in proper relation with the rod 5 and lever 19.

A washer or spring rest 29 is mounted loosely on the rod 5 adjacent the actuating lever, the said washer being bowed or bent as to provide a fulcrum engaging the respective bars 10. The washer 29 has a notched or bifurcated extension 30 engaging or straddling the link 21 to hold the washer in position. A coiled wire compression spring 28 is disposed on the rod 5 between the spring rest or washer 29 and the gripping ring 26 so as to give an outward tension to the gripping ring 26. The fulcrum of the washer contacting with the lever permits the lever to oscillate without affecting the position or function of the Washer or spring rest.

WVith the parts as thus described, it will be evident that by manually oscillating the actuating lever, the gripping devices will alternately bind on the rod 5 and will ad vance the lever along the said rod, in order to move the draft member attached to the arm 15 so as to jack up a wagon, to lift a fence post or the like. WVhen the device is employed as a jack, it is preferable to stand the rod 5 on end by means of the base plate 6, and when the device is employed as a wire stretcher, the base plate 6 may be brought against the end or corner post, so that the strands of the fence may be stretched beyond the post, as will be understood, in order that they may be conveniently stapled or other- Wise secured to the post without the necessary employment of an anchor post. The clevis 7 permits the rod 5 to be connected to a post or other object by looping a chain around the object and engaging the chain with the clevis, so that the object to be brought under tension by the device may be drawn toward the said object about which the chain is looped. It will also be evident, that by pressing the thumb pieces 22, and 27 together or toward each other, the gripping rings will be pressed against the tension of their springs and will release their hold on the rod 5 so that the actuating lever and the accompanying parts may slide downwardly on the rod 5 for slackening the draft member attached to the arm 15, or for lowering the L-shaped member 14, when the device is employed as a jack. As soon as the thumb pieces 22 and 27 are released, the device is again in condition for operation as above described.

Although the gripping devices may be released by means of the thumb pieces, it is preferable to provide automatic means for releasing them and for permitting them to recede more gradually. To this end, there has been provided the novel mechanism which will be presently described.

An L shaped member or elbow 31 is pivoted at its elbow to one end of the bolt or fulcrum member 12 and has a cam 35 at the free end of its long arm. The short arm of the elbow 31 is provided with an arcuate or curved slot 33 in which the end of the bolt 13 engages. The slot 33 has the bolt 12 as a center, thus permitting the member 31 to swing upon the bolt 12 and permitting the actuating lever to swing relative to the said member 31. A similar but smaller L- shaped member or elbow 32 is fulcrumed at its joint to the other end of the bolt 13 and has an arcuate slot 34: in its short arm with which the bolt 12 engages, the free'end of the long arm of the member 32 being provided with a cam 36.

The lever 19 is provided with a pair of lugs or projections 37 and 38 at one side, between which the free end of the long arm of the elbow 31 is arranged, and a plate or strip 39 is secured tothe said lugs over the said arm. The lugs 37 and 38 are sufficiently spaced to permit the arm of the elbow 31 to swingtherebetween so that the cam 35 is normally disengaged. This cam 35 is adapted to be engaged over the lug 37 so as to force the lever 19 against the tension of the spring 23. The lever 25 or the gripping ring 26 thereof, is provided with a projection or lug 10 on the side opposite the side of the lever 19 having the aforesaid lugs. The cam 36 of the lbow 32 is engageable with the lug 10, and when engaged thereo-ver forces the gripping ring 26 inwardly against the tension of the spring 28.

The L-shaped members 31 and 32 provide releasing devices for the respective gripping devices, and operate as follows: Normally, the cams 35 and 36 are out of engagement with the respective lugs 37 and 40, the slots 33 and 34 permitting the actuating lever to oscillate with a short stroke without engaging the cams over the lugs so as to permit the gripping devices to advance on the rod 5. However, when the actuating lever is given a full stroke downwardly, the bolt 13 will strike the inner end of the slot 33 and will swing the cam 35 over the lug 27, thus serving to force the lever 19 against the tension of the spring 23, the gripping ring 20 thus being released from the rod 5 so that the gripping ring 26 still binds on the said rod, Then, as the actuating lever is moved upwardly for a full or complete stroke, the cam 35 will remain in engagement with the lug 37 and the cam 36 will be swung toward and over the lug 40 in a similar manner. The cam 36 engages over the lug 40 in such a manner as to force the gripping ring 26 downwardly against the tension of the spring 28v at a time slightly before the contact of the bolt 13 with the upper end of the slot 33, which last mentioned action will cause the cam 35 to be swung out of engagement with the lug 37 to free the lever 19. The gripping ring 20 will thus be again brought into action so as to bind on the rod 5, but during the interval of the releasing of the gripping ring 26 and the binding of the gripping ring 20 on the rod, both gripping rings will be free so that the two gripping rings will have been permitted to gravitate or slide downwardly for a short distance on the rod under the weight or tension of the load, the distance depending on the velocity at which the lever 8 is swung. Thus, by oscillating the actuating lever for several full strokes, the gripping devices may be worked downwardly or be made to recede in order to slacken the draft member attached to the arm 15 or to lower the L- shaped member 14 when the device is employed as a jack. It will be noted that when the actuating lever is swung down for a full stroke after the cam 35 has been disengaged from the lug 37, the lever will swing on the bolt 12 as a fulcrum and the cam 36 will be released from the lug 40 when the bolt 12 strikes the upper end of the slot 34 so that the gripping ring 26 will again be free to bind on the rod 5, just prior to the reengagement of the cam 35 with the lug 37.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that a short stroke of the actuating lever will cause the gripping devices to progress on the rod 5, whereas the full or complete stroke, will cause the gripping devices to recede or slip downward on the rod, for the purposes set forth.

The handle 9, which is detachable, is provided with a suitable wire clamp or grip,

which consists in a pivoted aw 41 and a cooperating stationary jaw 42, the jaw 41 being pivoted eccentrically and having an actuating lever 42. It will thus appear, that a wire strand may be clamped between the jaws 41 and 42, so that the handle may be employed independently of the remainder of the device for stretching a single strand of wire, by engaging the inner end of the handle to an object and swinging the handle, as will be understood.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, the advantages and capabilities of the device will be evident to those versed in the art, and it will appear that the objects aimed at have been carried out satisfactorily, the present device providing a desirable one for the purposes for which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the class described embodying a rod, a lever, a pair of gripping devices carried by the lever and engaging the rod, and a pair of releasing members pivoted to the lever and having limited swinging movements relative thereto, the respective gripping devices and releasing members having cooperating means for alternately locking the gripping devices in and releasing them from inactive position when a full stroke of the lever is made.

2. A device of the class described, embodying a rod, a lever, a pair of gripping devices carried by the lever and engaging the rod, and means carried and actuated by the lever alternately engageable and disengageable with the gripping devices when a full stroke of the lever is made to alternately lock the gripping devices in and release them from inactive position.

3. A device of the class described embodying a rod, a lever, a pair of gripping members operatively connected to the lever and engaging the rod, and a pair of releasing de vices carried by and having limited movements relative to the lever and alternately operable by the lever to lock and release the respective gripping members when a full stroke of the lever is made.

4. A device of the character described embodying a rod, a lever, links pivoted to the lever on the opposite sides of the rod, spring pressed gripping members pivoted to the re spective links and engaging the rod, and a ited swinging movement relative thereto and adapted to be alternately engaged with the respective gripping member to release same when the lever is swung for its full stroke.

6. A device of the character described, embodying a rod, a lever, long and short links pivoted to the lever on the opposite sides of the rod, spring pressed gripping members pivoted to the respective links and engaging the rods, each gripping member having a projection, the projections being arranged on opposite sides of the rod, L-shaped members pivoted at their oints to the lever and each having the free end of one arm provided with a cam to engage over the respective projection, the other arm of each L- shaped member having an arcuate slot, and members carried by the lever engaging in the said slots.

7. A device of the character described embodying a rod, a lever, links pivoted to the lever on the opposite sides of the rod, spring pressed gripping members pivoted to the respective links and engaging the rods, each gripping member having a projection, a pair of releasing members carried by the lever and having cams to engage the respective projections to release the gripping members, the releasing members having limited swinging movements relative to the lever.

8. A device of the character described embodying a rod, a lever having its inner end crossing the rod, fulcrum members carried by the lever on the opposite sides of the rod, long and short links pivoted to the respective fulcrum members, spring pressed grip ping members pivoted to the respective links and engaging the rod, each gripping member having a projection, the projections being arranged on opposite sides of the rod,

and L-shaped members pivoted at their joints to opposite ends of the fulcrum members and each having a cam at the free end of one arm to engage over the respective projections, the other arm of each L-shaped member having an arc uate slot receiving the end of the other fulcrum member.

9. A device of the character described embodying a rod, an operating lever having its inner end crossing the rod, an elbow pivoted at its joint to the inner end of the lever, a spring pressed gripping member pivoted to one arm of the elbow and embracing the rod, a link pivoted to the lever opposite the elbow, and a spring pressed g ipping member pivoted to the link and embracing the arm, the other arm of the elbow being designed to be connected or engaged to an object.

10. A device of the character described embodying a rod, an operating lever having its inner end crossing the rod, long and short links pivoted to the lever on the opposite sides of the rod, a spring pressed gripping member pivoted to the long link and embracing the rod, a gripping member pivoted to the short link and embracing the rod, a bowed washer on the rod having its fulcrum contacting with the lever and having a notched extension engaging one of the links, and a compression spring between the washer and the latter gripping member.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signa tures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED L. SHELOR. KATHERINE P. MORGAN. Vitnesses J. P. SAUL, Jr., 7 W. AfI-IARVEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

